chapter 3

Helen narrates.

As soon as I left my stupid husband's office, I went into my room to cry. I was sad and upset. He didn't know what he was doing there. Although it was full of luxuries, I did not enjoy them, in that house I was one more employee, plus I missed my mother too much.

When I saw Dylan, I wanted to complain about how my old lady was treated, and also how I had been treated in that house, but I preferred to keep quiet, I was very afraid of Dylan, and I didn't want him to retaliate against me if I became rebellious.

I was lying sobbing when my dear sister-in-law entered my room without knocking.

"You, stand up. My brother wants you to go buy clothes” Marina was red with anger as if she was annoyed that her brother had asked her to buy clothes.

I got up quietly. I used to not talk back to people when they were really upset, I had learned that from my mother. And it's that whenever dad came home drunk, she just limited herself to obeying and keeping silent.

I cleaned up my outfit a bit and left the mansion. As soon as I went to the parking lot of the house, I breathed fresh air, I felt like I was drowning in that huge house, which, despite having thousands of distractions, Marina had kept me like a slave all that time. And it is that surely those were the orders of the monster of her brother.

Camilo, the driver, who was the same one who took me there on my wedding day, took me to a boutique on the outskirts of the city. He took me most of the afternoon to buy clothes, between trying on the outfits and choosing, it was many hours. The wardrobe consultant who was hired directly by my husband oversaw buying all kinds of clothes and shoes, from gala dresses to pajamas for sleeping. I couldn't deny that I felt like I was in a fairy tale, never in my life had I thought that one day I could have so many clothes together, garments and shoes.

There were so many bags that Camilo made two trips to the car. And after he left to take the bags, I told him that he wanted to take a walk around the mall, and although he hesitated, a moment later he agreed.

I was on my back admiring a beautiful necklace identical to one Mom had, when someone hugged me from behind.

“Helen my love, I have days trying to find you. I can't believe I finally see you, my queen” It was Alejandro, my boyfriend of years ago, and the great love of my life.

"What are you doing here Alejandro?" I questioned, trying to push him away.

"I know what your father did" That made me lower my face "He has given you to a monster through a marriage contract for money."

"I…"

"Don't say anything my love" He caressed my cheek "I know I'm still a child, but I promise to get you out of that house, just tell me that you still love me and that will be enough for me."

I stayed watching him for a few seconds. Alejandro was my boyfriend since he started school, and he really loved him, he loved him more than I could imagine. He was a dark Asian with strong features and honey-colored eyes. What had caught my attention about him was his great love for people, his patience, and the positive side of seeing everything.

"Of course, I love you, my love" I answered sincerely.

He took me by the neck and kissed me. At first, I wanted to resist, but after several seconds I let myself be carried away by that warm kiss; Her hands traveled to my back and he squeezed me very hard, then she pulled away from me to look me square in the eye.

"I'll get you out of that house, I promise" He gave me a short kiss on the lips and left.

Camilo arrived immediately. I was upset, my heartbeat was so loud I swore everyone around me could hear it.

“Miss, have you taken the walk yet? We must go; the boss wants her early for the celebration.”

I nodded and followed him, a lump in my throat. Alejandro was traveling with his parents when I found out about the wedding, and although he sent me letters telling me how much he always loved me, I never answered him because I knew that my mother's health came first.

«I hope you are doing all your mother studies» I thought, since my sacrifice had been for her.

I got into the car shocked by what had happened, I was grateful that Camilo had not seen me, after all I was married, and I did not want problems with my husband. Not until my mother had surgery.

When I got to the mansion and went into my room, there was a huge bouquet of black roses. I was very afraid when I saw them, but still I took the card carefully and read the description.

"From your dear husband Dylan"

I squeezed the card angrily; I didn't know what that man was up to by taking me such disgusting kinds of roses. If he wanted to play games with me and treat me like dirt, why had he married me? Was he one of those men who enjoyed seeing other people suffer?

I was deep in thought when Marina came into my room.

"I need you to get ready, our friends have already started to arrive, and my brother doesn't like being late."

"Where have they left all the bags of my clothes to choose one of the dresses I brought?" I asked noticing that the bags with the outfits hadn't been taken to my room.

"My brother sent you this dress and these heels, he wants you to put on these clothes."

I looked at the dress that Marina had in her hands; it was a hideous yellow dress, and the heels were scandalous green.

"Are you sure Dylan asked me to wear these clothes?" I asked confused. I didn't understand why he had made me buy so many clothes and then he could choose the one he wanted.

"Yeah, those are strict orders, and you better not make him mad."

After I got dressed, Marina did my makeup. She took my hair and made a strange bow in it, and although she had insisted that she let my hair loose she told me no, that it was her brother's orders.

I was upset. How could she be so macho as to control the way she should dress me? The very fool...

Marina hadn't let me see myself in the mirror, claiming that it was late, and that Dylan hated being late, so without seeing how my makeup had turned out, I went downstairs to reach the living room.

I thought it was more discreet to take the elevator down, but my dear sister-in-law had said that Dylan had asked me to take the stairs.

As I went down each step, one by one, the strange eyes that were in that room settled on me; some with mockery and others with pity. And Dylan, who before seeing me was smiling at someone else, was upset, so much so that the veins on his forehead stood out.

As soon as I finished going down the stairs, Dylan approached me, annoyed, and took my hands to drag me up to him.

“What the fuck do you think you're doing?! You want to embarrass me, don't you?!”

His hands were clasping mine tightly.

"What are you talking about Dylan? Let me go, you hurt me" I whispered about to cry.

“From your clothes, from your makeup. You look like a clown! You are embarrassing me!”

"It was your orders!" I yelled as I released my furious grip to go to my room.

I started crying hard, I was so angry; after she had ordered me to dress like that, she treated me like a crazy person in front of about fifteen people. Truly that man was a monster, a person without the slightest feeling of mercy.

After several minutes sobbing I could hear Dylan screaming running to everyone at the party and throwing objects wherever he wants. She was terrified that he would come into my room and take it out on me.

It was eleven at night when Margarita the maid entered my room to wake me up.

"Ma'am, wake up" she touched my shoulder gently.

"Yeah?" I said sleepily.

“The gentleman is waiting for you in his room. She has ordered that she rest with him and that she helps bathe him, she does not want anyone to do it, only you because it is the duty of his wife.”

I grabbed my head in frustration realizing that I was still wearing the hairstyle from a while ago.

"Let me change and I'll go" My voice trembled with nerves.

I took off my bow and looked in the mirror to remove my makeup, it was really horrible, I even felt a little laugh at my appearance; but I couldn't stop forgetting that she had been humiliated in front of everyone.

I cleaned my face and went to my dear husband's room, to touch the door with trembling hands.

"I can pass?" I asked with a broken voice.

"Come in." Dylan's hoarse voice came from the other side of the door.

As soon as I saw him in his wheelchair with his gaze lost in the photograph he had of the woman and the child, a question inadvertently left my lips that I later regretted having asked.

“Is it your wife and your son?” I instinctively covered my mouth upon realizing what he had asked.

He looked at me for a few seconds with sparkling eyes and then replied:

"Yes, it's them." He lowered his gaze.

I was sad. Her eyes looked sad. She wanted to hug him to comfort him, she didn't know that Dylan Mayora's monster had feelings, but apparently, he did.

"Still in those clothes?" she asked breaking the ice.

"I have no clothes" I shrugged, downplaying it.

The expression on his face changed from sad to angry in a matter of seconds.

"I ordered you to buy everything you needed" He gritted his teeth contained in rage.

“Yes, but they haven't taken it to my room. I don't know where they left all the bags.”

I explained.

“I will call Margarita right away, and I will demand that she bring your clothes to our room. It is obvious that they must have brought her here since you will sleep here from now on” she was going to interrupt him, but she didn't let him. "And I don't care if you don't agree, it's your obligation."

"I was just going to say don't call Margarita, the poor thing must be tired, and tomorrow will be another day."

"Well, you can change and wear some of my clothes, after all, I'm your husband" His gaze was cold, his words dry.

I nodded because it was really uncomfortable to walk in that dress. Dylan told me where to look through his clothes for something that would fit me.

I chose to place a white cotton flannel that reached to my knees. Although he couldn't see it because he was in a wheelchair, Dylan was tall, very tall.

"You can shower if you want" he mused.

I took the floor and went to the bathroom; I knew where the cleaning products were since the first night I had slept in that room. After showering and putting on Dylan's shirt in the bathroom, I went out to help him with his clothes, too.

"Mr. Dylan, I'm ready, I'm going to help you, okay?"

He agreed and with trembling hands I began to remove his clothes; First I started with his shirt, his exposed back caused a current on my back. Despite having seen Alejandro half-naked, I had never felt that electrifying feeling in my body.

After leaving him in his underwear I took him to the bathroom. He motioned for me to help him get into the tub, and with great effort I did so, then withdrew and waited for him to indicate that he was ready to get dressed.